Stranded in Southern Mexico

Even though we live very simple lives at a pleasantly slower pace, the rest of North America continues on- hustle and bustle! But the slower pace has done us good, even when the unexpected comes along, I find myself seeing more challenges than problems. The situations are the same, but my reactions are different.

Late this summer we found out that our bank cards had been canceled! Westamerica Bank, the new owners of County Bank had sent out letters telling folks that the County Bank cards would only be good until mid August. Unfortunately, it takes a while for our mail to catch up with us. So we were stranded for over a month, unable to access any of our money in the new bank. (Not to worry, a visiting friend brought the new cards.) But it was interesting, having plenty of cash available in the bank but not able to access it.

Hmmmm, what else do we have available in our lives that we can't, won't or don't access?
Joy?
Time?
Friendship?
Peace?
Family?

It's all here, right in front of us, but how long will you, or I, wait to take hold of what is already available to us?

Xagacia (ZA-GU-SEA-U)

Three plus hours north of Oaxaca city in the Sierra Norte mountains are several small Zapotec pueblos. We spent the weekend there.





Friday night we stayed in a small Zapotec community at 7,000+ feet above sea level, Llano Grande. The temperature was cooler than we are used to here in the city. We stayed in a Yuu, a "community guest house." Several indigenous communities are using their lands to develop "eco-tourism.' These well designed cabins even have a fireplace- which we needed that night!

Saturday morning we drove another hour and a half to Rancho Allegre where we joined a group of about 40 Oaxaqueno Covenant pastors from all over the state for their regular meeting that occurs every 6-8 weeks. Six hours of listening and trying to understand Spanish while sitting on hard wooden benches is exhausting. After about three hours Katy left to go check out the "kitchen" and talk to the ladies about
cooking and family life in mountain pueblos.

After the all-day-meeting we spent the night about 30 minutes away in Xagacia (Za-gu-sea-u). The Covenant Church there is about 56 years old and is one of the first, if not THE first, Covenant Church in all of Mexico. It was started by Oaxaquenos who had been living and working in Texas in the 1950s. When they returned to their homes they brought back the first Covenant Church! Both Bruce and JoEllen had the privilege of speaking there! The people were encouraged that others would take the time to come visit their churches and communities. We were encouraged by their faith and hospitality.

Bruce spoke at the first service on Sunday morning- the one that STARTED at 5:00 A.M.(and ended about 6:30). JoEllen had an easier job and spoke at the 10:00 service (which ended shortly after noon!). So friends, NO COMPLAINING if your church service runs over by 10 or 15 minutes on a Sunday morning!

August 12, Day of the Taxi!

August 12, Day of the Taxi. Taxi drivers decorate their taxis and parade through their communities. We took a short break from classes when we heard them coming: horns blowing, radios blasting, candy being thrown out the windows for kids and adults alike. Fun for all!

WE and THEY

Father, Mother, and Me,
Sister and Auntie say
All the people like us are We,
And everyone else is They.
And They live over the sea
While We live over that way,
But- would you believe it?- They look upon We
As only a sort of They!

We eat pork and beef
With a cow-horned- handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf
Are horrified out of Their lives;
While They who live up a tree,
Feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn't it scandalous?) look upon We
As simply disgusting They!

We eat kitcheny food.
We have doors that latch.
They drink milk and blood
Under an open thatch.
We have doctors to fee.
They have wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!) They look upon We
As a quite impossible They!

All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like us, are We
And everyone else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!) looking on We
As only a sort of They!

- Rudyard Kipling

Spontaneous Fun!

Part of the spontaneous fun of Oaxaca is the surprise street parades. Recently while in the Zocalo, with a visiting friend, we happened upon a group from the Istmo of Tehuantepec, in the south of the state, (the peach color on the map). The first picture is a map of the state showing the different regions with samples of some of the beautiful clothing from each region. Istmo clothing is on the top row, center.

The remaining pictures are of the street procession itself, including a video of a rarely performed public dance. Enjoy!

What do you give to someone when you have so little to offer?
Many times it is a gift of yourself.


On Tuesday morning during a break from summer school I walked to the nearby "Miscellaneous Pati" (Misc. shops are generally a little bit of anything- this one is like a sandwich shop). I wanted just a simply piece of bread to munch on. I walked back across the street to school and chatted with a few of the kids before we started class again. Juan evidently became concerned about me; when he got home that day he asked his mom, "Can you take my teachers some lunch? One was just eating a plain piece of bread today." The next morning both Juan and his mother showed up before school. She asked the director if she could bring lunch for us that day. We were honored with a wonderful soup, full of fresh vegetables and small pieces of beef, and of course tortillas. The Senora was proud to tell us that the beef was from her own pueblo near the coast! It was delicious!

We try very hard to accept these peoples' gifts; their gifts, no matter the size, are gift that represent offers of trying to honor us. The gifts are not in the objects, the gifts are from their hearts!